how do you dismantle rear shocks

[johnnyjon]

as the title suggests i would like to remove the spring from my rear shocks so i can spruce both of them up. cant find any thing in the search or on basscliff site.

[Kaiser Sosei]

Are these the stock shocks or aftermarket? I don't think the stock ones are serviceable, and aftermarket ones will depend on the brand.

[johnnyjon]

i have 2 sets which could both do with a tidy. they are standard items. the two sets are diffferent to each other. one is the standard shocks off the gs 850 i have. think the other ones are standard ones off a gs1000

[Hammered]

To disassemble the rear shocks you need to compress the spring. Once you do this, you will need to loosen the nut the jams against the top shock mount, a 13mm IIRC. At this point its just a matter of slowly releasing the pressure on the spring and youre done.

[derwood]

You can drill a hole in the shock body to add oil while the spring is off.
Drill near the top, submerge the hole and/or the shock in your favourite flavour of oil and pump it back and forth. How much oil? you decide. and of course you need a method of plugging the hole.

[duaneage]

I use a bunch of wood clamps , the steel spring type,, to squeeze the spring down. Takes about 12. Then I use a 14 mm wrench to hold the nut and revolve the top part around. Comes right off.

Assembly is the same way, clamp it down and then put the bolt back into the top.

[johnnyjon]

thanks guys, pics 2. i am impressed. thanks again!

[salty_monk]

I have the clamps from Pit Posse - work well.

Dan

[bwringer]

As long as you understand that you are, quite literally, polishing a turd.

It's difficult to express in written English how dangerously the stock shocks suck.

[Steve]

It's difficult to express in written English how dangerously the stock shocks suck.

And THAT was when they were NEW.

.

[tkent02]

And THAT was when they were NEW.

.

The shocks on SOME models were not that bad when they were new. Fairly good in that day.
Thirty years ago. When they still had good oil in them.
They sure do suck now.

[gsgeezer]

All of the above.

I would spruce mine up by taking them to the scrap yard.
They are so heavy, you might actually make some money!

The shocks on SOME models were not that bad when they were new. Fairly good in that day.
Thirty years ago. When they still had good oil in them.
They sure do suck now.

[Rudeman]

The shocks on SOME models were not that bad when they were new. Fairly good in that day.
Thirty years ago. When they still had good oil in them.
They sure do suck now.

I ran GS1000 units on my '77 GS750B. It was a night and day difference in the handling. Really quickened the steering and improved the stability. So I agree not all were bad when new. The trouble is none are new now.